January 01, 2010 07:01 PM UTC

Blue Dog Moon

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• by: JO

“Colorado’s Rep. Betsy Markey joins Blue Dog Democrats.” Denver Post, Dec. 17. http://www.denverpost.com/ci_1…

Cold out last night. Still, worth the shivering to see that blue moon, to imagine sturdy farmers in Far, Far Western Kansas peering out at the same brillliant moon, listening to the howls of the First Concerto for Coyotes on the Steppes in D-minor by Betsy Markeehowzitz.

I’ve said before that we’re all philosophers, whether we acknowledge it or not. And exactly one fortnight before the last Blue Moon of the 00s, we learned that Betsy had made it official: she’s a blue dog now.

I mention philosophy because this announcement raises a profound question of, what? Metaphysics? Are Blue Dogs really Democrats? Or are they, well, Republicanines singin’ the ol’ Lil’ Guvment Blues?

Let’s kill the deficit, ‘cept when it means

Cuttin’ the subsidies for corn an’ beans

Gotta pay Big Ag a whole lot more,

‘Cause it’s gentlemen farmers whom we adore!

Subsi, Subsidize

Davey on the Wild Frontier!

Now, I can see an argument for keeping the Noble Nancy as Speaker, and therefore sending Republicans in Democrats’ clothing to Washington lest that vote be a squeaker. But liklihood is that in January 2011, whatever the change in party balance, Pelosi will prevail. And if members of her caucus aren’t going to vote for Democratic bills thereafter, as I gather the “blue dog” designation suggests they won’t, what’s the point in having them there?

Ah, you might ask, isn’t that better than having a Republican warming those seats? To which I reply: No. When a representative (or a $enator) votes in line with the R party, whose policies are uniformly backwards and lead to further crises like the one in which we now find ourselves as a nation, then I think it’s better that they be properly labeled: Republican. Truth in labeling, lest voters perceive that “it doesn’t matter, they’re all [crooks][dishonest]]looking out for their own interests].

IF we elect nominal Democrats and get Republican policies, what’s the difference?